Thanksgiving

8th grader

People often take things for granted, which is completely natural. It is normal, as human beings, that we don’t notice something’s worth until that thing is lost. That is the reason I believe that there should be a time for people to appreciate everything they value at the moment, before those things are lost and gone. The things that can obtain value to someone can be anyone or anything, such as a family member, or even an item, like a piece of jewelry passed down from earlier generations. The worth of people, objects and thoughts in someone’s life is just one of those thoughts that he or she doesn’t necessarily think about everyday no matter how relevant those things really are. That is why I insist that a day or two are needed for people to stop and make a list in our minds about things we are grateful for and to give credit to people or things that deserve it. What better day is there (for Americans) to do this than Thanksgiving?

There is a meaningful history behind the celebration of Thanksgiving Day regarding the thanks given to the Native Americans who helped the pilgrims massively, in surviving that winter, when pilgrims first arrived in America on the Mayflower. To thank the kind-hearted Native Americans, the pilgrims arranged a giant feast at the end of the season, in the year of 1621, where hundreds of Native Americans gathered to eat, which is why Americans celebrate Thanksgiving annually on the same day, by having huge feasts. The year after that winter of 1621, the first Thanksgiving proclamation was issued to express the gratitude of pilgrims toward the Native Americans.

Though besides going to family gatherings and having huge feasts, I think we, Americans, should also take a moment to be thankful, and to comprehend all the amazing things to be thankful for, because anything can be appreciated as long as it has meaning. All Americans should have something to be thankful for. After all, America is an exceptional country thriving with freedom and pride.

Moving on, I am grateful for a countless number of things. For example, I am very grateful for good health, a comfortable amount of money, freedom, an opportunity to have a great education, having a home, breathing fresh air, safety and security, weekends, laughter, sunshine, clean water, my cell phone, kindness from strangers, holidays, diversity, music, the internet, food, especially nutella, color, and an endless expanse of other wonderful things.

Above all, I am grateful for my unquestionably supportive and loving family and friends, and I value them greatly. My parents encourage and advise me every single day, and they continuously direct clear guidance and good advice toward me. They care for me, believe in me, and constantly remind me that I can achieve, accomplish or conquer anything if I put my mind to it. My parents build up a solid confidence within me, and I am genuinely thankful for them. Likewise, I cherish my friends as well as my family. My friends are special gifts that I happily accept and deeply appreciate. They are the people who make me laugh a little louder and smile a little brighter. My circle of friends unceasingly exchange positive thoughts and ideas, and no one can cheer me up and enliven me as much as they do, because they know so much about me from the little things that make me chirpy and joyous to the thoughts that make me gloomy. Undoubtedly, I am very relieved to have friends like mine.

I encourage YOU to think about everything YOU are thankful for. Everyone has something he/she treasures. Bear in mind that gratitude is the key to optimism. “It is not happy people who are thankful; it is thankful people who are happy.”